“I can only imagine what it will be like
When I walk, by your side
I can only imagine what my eyes will see
When you face is before me
I can only imagine
I can only imagine …”

I know the song. You probably do too. But I love learning more about the story that inspired Bart Millard to write this song.

“Dreams don’t pay the bills” was something Bart heard early on from his dad, but it was the same sentiment from the music executives who discouraged him after he arrived in Nashville. As he pursued his dream, he also realized he had to face the pain from which he was running.

The road to forgiveness is messy and hard,
but the redemption that comes is always glorious.

Dennis Quaid and Trace Adkins star in this inspiring true story behind MercyMe’s beloved hit song. Running from a troubled home life and a broken relationship, Bart Millard found escape in music. Hitting the road in a decrepit tour bus, Bart and his band MercyMe set out on an amazing journey none of them could have ever imagined, in this uplifting, music-filled movie that beautifully illustrates the power of forgiveness and God’s love.

This is a beautiful story of relationships healed, dreams realized, and truth proclaimed. Bart recognized his father’s transformation from a man he hated to an example of the man he wanted to become.

On a lighter note, the late ‘80s and early ‘90s culture references were spot on and made me a little nostalgic for my own coming-of-age story. “I Can Only Imagine” is a well-made movie obviously held to excellent standards, which, let’s be honest, isn’t always the case for Christian movies.

I will also say my 11-year-old girl watched this movie with me and I was totally comfortable with her doing so. Younger kids probably wouldn’t be as interested and there are multiple references to the abuse Bart experienced in his childhood home.

The home entertainment release of “I Can Only Imagine” features more than three hours of extras, including seven deleted scenes, seven in-depth features, and audio commentary. This movie from Lions Gate studio is rated PG.

“Surrounded by Your glory
What will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus
Or in awe of You be still
Will I stand in your presence
Or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah
Will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine …”

Giveaway

Who wants to have a copy? I’ve got one to giveaway! Between now and Friday, June 15 use the Rafflecopter widget to enter to win. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

It’s Friday! I can say that with assurance, despite my forthcoming post about how it’s been easy to forget what day it is this week. And speaking of EASY, that’s this week’s prompt for Five Minute Friday. Do you know about #FMF? Kate Motaung offers a prompt and then writers write. Five minutes. Just write. And then we all link up together.

On Wednesday I was walking and talking with my best friend and said, “It seems later in the week than Thursday.” Um, wrong day. In my head I meant to say Wednesday but Thursday came out, probably because it never did feel like Wednesday.

This week, it was easy to forget what day it was. In some ways, my weekdays look similar but in other ways each day is its own.

I have a lot of ideas and thoughts and plans on my mind. And they’re making the days run together.

I started making summer plans because somehow that helps me embrace the moment. Making plans is my love language. (I watched “Leap Year” this week and loved when Declan said to Anna: “I don’t wanna not make plans with you. I wanna make plans with you.”)

I have ideas of things to write. By things I mean blog posts, ebooks, and notes to friends. It’s easy to push those aside because other things seem more pressing, but, really, for the way my soul processes life, that’s not true.

Greg and I have both been up at 2 a.m. with our baby girl different days this week. Maybe those teeth are really coming though, but in the middle of the night, it’s easy to forget what day it is. During daylight, she’s happy and moving and discovering and soaking in life, whatever the day.

When my mind is swirling in different directions, it’s easy to forget what day it is, but, y’all, I’m glad for Friday and I don’t want to not make plans.

We spent Thanksgiving weekend in Buffalo, NY, where my sister Cassie and her family live. And there wasn’t any snow, for those of you thinking we’re crazy to head into lake-effect weather for a holiday.

We actually had a couple days in the 50s, and then it was in the mid-30s the day we went to Niagara Falls and then three-fifths of my family ice skated outside.

In addition to Niagara Falls and ice skating, we had a big Thanksgiving meal with Cassie & Zac’s friends, ate wings (I managed one handed while feeding Rachel!), saw some friends who used to go to church with us in Kentucky, hung out with our almost-2-year-old nephew Lochlan, and played euchre.

On the way back, the big kids watched the same three movies plus “Princess and the Frog” and Rachel slept more. Thanks to less traffic in Ohio, we were able to shave off almost an hour on the way home.

Speaking of Rachel sleeping, she managed her BEST TWO NIGHTS up to that point while we were there and continued her six- and seven-hour stretches when we got home. She’s the best 10-week-old, ever, really.

Thanksgiving is a holiday that doesn’t have traditions for us. We’ve traveled often for it – Branson, Mo. … in 2011 and 2013; Charleston, S.C. in 2012 – and spent 2009 at home with our baby boy. Our favorite tradition is an annual meal with our friends. I say that like we only eat once annually with them, and that’s not true, but sharing in the holiday together has been special. And we did that last month this year.

This Thanksgiving was good. I coughed and blew my nose way more often than I wanted to. We spent two entire days in the mini van. But we made memories with people we love.

Buffalo didn’t have any snow, and my sister didn’t have her babies like I was hoping either. She’s 37 weeks pregnant with twins. I’m greatly anticipating their arrival, the updates about them across the miles, and visits with them this summer.

Until then, I’ve got Thanksgiving memories tucked away. Meanwhile, giving thanks is a concept I want to embrace more tightly regardless of the date on the calendar. {Tweet that.}

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About Me

Telling stories is my therapy and love sharing with friends on my porch.

The main characters in my stories are my entrepreneur husband, our fifth-grade girl who never forgets, our have-no-fear second-grade boy, and our joy-filled toddler girl. As we live out our stories, we seek God as the author of them all.